Riding Lawnmower

wheelhorse · #1 05/26/07, 07:34 PM

I have to buy another one but this time I want a GOOD ONE
The only jap one I can find is a husquvarna with a 2 cylinder kawasocky it cost $2800 Anyone here own one and what do you think of it? or any other suggestions thanks

muzzelloader · #2 05/26/07, 07:41 PM

I would suggest a zero turn mower. I was in the landscaping bus for a number of years and zero turns are the handiest you can get. They can be a bit pricey but I understand some co's are now making then in tthe smaller home versions. There are also a number of co's now making them. I mosteley have exper with the Grasshopper brand, a good machine.

seedspreader · #3 05/26/07, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheelhorse

I have to buy another one but this time I want a GOOD ONE
The only jap one I can find is a husquvarna with a 2 cylinder kawasocky it cost $2800 Anyone here own one and what do you think of it? or any other suggestions thanks

hmmm... the Kawasaki engine is an excellent engine.

I actually looked at the new John Deere zero turns and wouldn't buy one.

In a year or two it will be a decent machine... but being the first year there will be bugs to work out.

I noticed that their front wheels didn't have a grease zirk and that the belt for the deck had a plastic covering.

The cub cadet zero turn had the Kawasaki engine (JD had B&S) and a 50" deck vs the 46 (or 48 can't remember now) on the JD. The CC was almost 1000.00 cheaper.

MELOC · #4 05/26/07, 08:32 PM

i would like to get a commercial walk behind with a 48 inch deck.

fordy · #5 05/26/07, 08:35 PM

........................I stopped and visited with sales guy at h.depot , they had C.cadet's , both 46' cut , both had kohler 20 hp eng's , except one was zero turn and $3395 with a 20hp kohler was a V-twin . The other cadet was $1695 , no zero turn but , Half the price . They said they can't sell the Zero turn cause it's priced wayyyyyy too high . , fordy...

Junkmanme · #6 05/26/07, 08:37 PM

As you know, Husqvarna is SWEDISH. I would prefer an Industrial Kohler engine (cast iron NOT Aluminum block...perhaps "sleeved aluminum" OR a Honda engine to the Kawasaki, although I had a Kawasaki motorcycle that performed very well.)

An older "rebuilt" John Deere would be GOOD. I think some of them had Kohler engines. (American-Made)

just rambling, :baby04:
Bruce

anniew · #7 05/26/07, 08:37 PM

My small engine guy told me not to buy one with a Kawasaki engine, but rather get one with a Kohler or Briggs & Stratton. He also said not to get a two cylinder, and to make sure the mower deck is heavy metal...not plastic or flimsy metal. Those were his three pieces of advice.
Ann

Jen H · #8 05/26/07, 09:34 PM

We have a Kubota zero-turn and have been really happy with it.

cheapskate · #9 05/26/07, 09:45 PM

The right choice for quality, dependability, speed and endurance. I own 2 of them, both with Kubota engines. Made by a great family owned company in Kansas.

http://www.grasshoppermower.com/

Hoop · #10 05/26/07, 10:07 PM

If I wanted a really good riding lawnmower that starts easy, needs minimal maintenance, and gives long service, there is really only 1 choice, Honda.

If you want a lesser unit, but one that comes with a readily recognizable paint schematic and that lovely phrase, get yourself a John Deere. After all, "Nothing runs like a Deere".

OkieDavid · #11 05/26/07, 10:09 PM

Bought a Cub Cadet 1045 (20hp Kohler and 46 inch deck) last year. Only has 115 hours on it but I LOVE it and if it gave it up tomorrow I would have one just like it in less than a week.

Rockin'B · #12 05/26/07, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheapskate

The right choice for quality, dependability, speed and endurance. I own 2 of them, both with Kubota engines. Made by a great family owned company in Kansas.

http://www.grasshoppermower.com/

How are these mowers on sidehills? I have some somewaht hilly areas to mow and wonder how these are compared to a standard riding mower? I've never used a z-turn mower.

Rockin'B · #13 05/26/07, 10:14 PM

Alos, what mowers are NOT made by MTD these days? Seems like MTD makes equipment for about everyone anymore...

cheapskate · #14 05/26/07, 10:16 PM

Grasshoppers are very good on hillsides if they have the wide rear end wheel setup. I have a very large hill on my property. The big hill was made fron the dirt which was excavated from a pond I had made. The Grasshopper with the wide set rear wheels does an excellent job.

PyroDon · #15 05/26/07, 10:24 PM

Being a poor boy (ok just cheap) I have a couple old snapper riders the old style picked up for next to nothing at auctions. replaced the motors .went from 8 hp briggs to 13 hp tec. castiron sleeves both have 36" decks with the front and back cut open for rough mowing. they are mini brush hogs and will take down 1" trees without slowing down onlt three things that can go wrong with them the drive wheel ($13) the mower belt ($9) or the deck bearings (havent lost any yet so don't know the cost.
anonther rough cutter I have is a 48" self powered brush hog with a 16hp briggs pulled by a 1970 JD 110 retrofitted last week with an 11hp honda (the 110 was free ,the honda engine was a $50 purchase from a yard sale , the brush hog cost 150 at a yard sale and came with an 11hpv ertical honda, the briggs came off an old murry ($20) which is being turned into a mini dump truck for the kids)
finish mowing is being done with a sears DT4000 with a 23hp water cooled kohlar that a neighbor gave me because it was locked up ( only the eletric clutch was froze $62 off ebay and its like brand new .
I'd love a grasshopper but just cant see spending that kind of money

bill not in oh · #16 05/26/07, 10:57 PM

Let's back up a minute... Couple of qualifying questions...

How much area are you mowing?
If you're mowing 2+ acres, throw out belly mower lawn tractors unless you've got 2 hours per acre hours to mow.

What is the terrain?
If it's all smooth and flat, a good high speed ZTR or walk-behind will get 'er done pretty quick. Dixie Chopper if you have a dealer in the area - pricey, but fast and reliable. If it's hilly and rough you might want to think in terms of a brush hog behind a tractor.

how many and what type of 'obstacles' are you mowing around?
If you have a lot of landscape features, a walk behind (as Meloc mentioned) will have the advantage of mowing up to and under them (walk-behind doesn't really mean WALK behind - they have stand up or sit down sulkies). A lot of deciduous trees and the ZTR will have an advantage.

How much trimming do you need to do?
If a lot, the walk behind will allow you to do much of it more efficiently.

How much time do you have to commit to mowing?
ZTRs and walk behinds will allow you to mow faster. The high end ones $$$$$ will allow you to mow faster with excellent results and reliability.

Do you want to keep the grass/weeds cut down or do you want a 'golf course' lawn?
Hard to beat the good belly mowers (or pull-behind finish mowers $$$$) for that well manicured look. A tractor with a 60" brush hog will knock it down really fast, but you won't be putting for birdies on the surface .

Point is: match the equipment with your need.

Avoid the big box stores - find a dealer near you that has a reputation for excellent service (that's more important than any specific brand IMHO).

I think that currently Honda is building one of the better engines - just make sure you pair it up with someone that is building a comparable machine to mount it on.

Happy hunting...

bergere · #17 05/26/07, 11:53 PM

We ended up with a John Deere 304 riding mower with the 42" mulching deck. This is the one with the 4 wheel turning and is easy to operate.

Found the 48" mowing decks do not always cut as nice.
Have had it over a year and quite happy with it..and lets just say DH,,is not gentle with his machines.

We ended up buying the riding lawn mower because DH could not keep up with the grass around the house. He had one of the bigger push mower Husqvarna's,,but still would take him almost all day.
Riding one cuts the time down to 2 hours.

Personally I would rather kill all the grass around the house and plant moss........

dale · #18 05/27/07, 12:10 AM

If you check you will probably find that the Huskys are made by AYP (American Yard Products). Same as craftsman, Wizard. Weak Weak decks.
There are 3 companies that make the cheaper mowers. AYP as mentioned above, MTD (modern tool and die) and Murray.

All the yardman and other cheaper ones are made by the three companies.

Now when you get into John Deere, Cub, and other more expensive mowers thats a different thing.

Be sure to keep away from AYP if you have rocks, dirt you may hit with blade, or tuffs of Fescue.. It will break the blade housings.

Iknow.. I have a wizard and have changed about 3 housing per year. they are 20 dollars if you only need the housing. 45-55 if you mess up the shaft and have to buy the whole kitten kaboodle.

Just my 2Cents worth.

worked in a mower repair shop for 5 years.

dale

Sand Flat Bob · #19 05/27/07, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dale

If you check you will probably find that the Huskys are made by AYP (American Yard Products). Same as craftsman, Wizard. Weak Weak decks.
There are 3 companies that make the cheaper mowers. AYP as mentioned above, MTD (modern tool and die) and Murray.

All the yardman and other cheaper ones are made by the three companies.

Now when you get into John Deere, Cub, and other more expensive mowers thats a different thing.

Be sure to keep away from AYP if you have rocks, dirt you may hit with blade, or tuffs of Fescue.. It will break the blade housings.

Iknow.. I have a wizard and have changed about 3 housing per year. they are 20 dollars if you only need the housing. 45-55 if you mess up the shaft and have to buy the whole kitten kaboodle.

Just my 2Cents worth.

worked in a mower repair shop for 5 years.

dale

Murray went bankrupt. I think various companies bought the pieces.

Bob

Okie-Dokie · #20 05/27/07, 07:36 AM

We own and opperate a small part time mowing service. For us, the rider that gave us the best return for the initial cost and upkeep, believe me or not, is a 14hp, 36" deck, hydrostatic, Murray that is still used daily, from Walmart. The B&S motor was just that. "BS". As soon as it went bad I replaced it with a used Honda engne that amazingly just bolted right up and it has been going like the everready bunny since that day. The easiest to use and quickest is a new Gravely zero turn and the new Cub Cadet zero turn is more fun to drive than an amusement park bumper car! If you alredy have enough heartburn, and dis-appointment in your life, stay plumb away from anything that has A Briggs & Stratton engine! For reliability, and dependability, #1= Honda, #2=Kohlar. For keeping the small engine repairman in cheap beer and hog rinds, go with B&S. Just my take on this after 12 years of mowing commercially.